Amtgard Midreign

This past weekend I didn't have an art show, but attended an event with my medieval group, Amtgard. The event was Midreign, and was held in Valdosta, GA. It was great fun seeing friends I only see a couple times a year, getting to know new ones, seeing what everyone has been doing, and general socialization. We hold a feast, a fighting tournament, an arts & sciences contest, court (awards and announcements) and a bardic (singing and performing around a campfire). I won first place in the arts & sciences contest for one of my beaded jewelry pieces, and had great fun at the bardic. At court I had the great honor to be awarded my Masterhood in the Order of the Dragon, which is for excellence in arts & sciences.

This weekend I will be at an art show in Gainesville, at Oak Hall High School. This is the first year for this show, so it's all a new experience. This should be my last outdoor art show of the season, lets hope some cash flow comes from it - because the last couple shows have been rather scarce in that department :)

Pioneer Days in High Springs

I have mixed emotions about this show. I did win First Place in Art, which came with a free booth for next year (value $100). However, I didn't even make enough in sales to cover this year's booth fee for the whole weekend, so why would I want to repeat that?

All the sales were on Saturday, and absolutely NOTHING on Sunday. I did meet some people that may purchase items later on my website, or custom orders, which is also good. I also met an author who is interested in me working on some cover art for her books - she writes historical romances set in the Highlands of Scotland :)

Other than that, it was a long and dusty weekend. They guy in the booth next to me sold these annoying little pop guns, and kids were playing with them at the booth all weekend long.

Luckily, my other neighbor (Sean) was a guy I'd met at many other art shows, and we chatted a bit. He sells spiders made out of beads, and has quite a following. I think I first met him at Dreamcon, the short lived Jacksonville scifi convention... and my first art show table ever.

Next weekend I'm up to an Amtgard event in Valdosta. I rarely sell much there, but I like the socialization and would go even if I weren't selling. I almost didn't, but the organizer asked for vendors, so I'll bring my stock up. They've set aside a pavilion with tables and a roof, so much the better!

Psychics and Winds

Well, the Psychic Faire was a bit of a bust. Made one sale to a lady getting a print for her daughter's birthday - she snuck back in after the daughter was in the car already, so it would be a surprise :)

I did make one other sale, a $100 necklace to a vendor there. However, she came back later with a song and dance about how her friend wanted to buy it for her instead, could we put it back out for her? Yeah, well, obviously the friend never came over, so that was the end of that.

I didn't make my booth fee, and it was a long day. Made some contacts, though, that may make some purchases later, we'll see. Not much traffic, the organizers said it was slower than usual. The Art Show and Air Show going on the same weekend was likely part of that.

I did go with my mom to the Santa Fe Art Show on Sunday - the one that I've been put on the waiting list for the last two years. Let me say, it isn't that my display or the quality of my work is bad, I saw much worse! (IMHO). So, I'll try again next year. Was sort of glad I wasn't in this year - Sunday was a very windy, blustery day, and I don't envy those that were holding down their tents, or packing up to go home!

The Villages -

I did an art show put on by Howard Alan Events, also known as American Craft Endeavors (for their craft shows) at The Villages in Ocala this weekend. The setup was a nightmare - no one really knew where the booth numbers were, and I wandered around about 20 minutes trying to find my booth spot. Then, after being assured by email by Terri that I wouldn't need a dolly, I discovered that was not correct, and had to carry all my stuff to my booth from the parking lot. Since I only had mom with me, this took a little longer than it could have :) However, I had gotten there early enough that it turned out alright.

Then I got busted! :) I had juried in on my photos, as the organizer said they didn't need to see my jewelry photos. I figured they had already seen them, and just didn't need them again. But the person in charge (Helene) came by and said I couldn't have more than one medium in the booth. I plan on writing her to protest this rule, as you shouldn't try to restrict the creative mind - it has explosive results. :P

This weekend I have a one-day show, indoors. A Psychic Faire in Gainesville, at the Universal church on 34th Street. I've not done this one before, though I have done some in Ocala.

Well, I didn't get the prints in time for showing them at the Highland Games (sob!). In fact, they arrived by UPS a half hour after I had left to drive south. They had been 'in delivery' since 7am, damn it! Grrrrrr....

However, I now have them, just have to get a bigger frame for the large one, and will have them at the Villages this weekend. Yay! I'm hoping this is a great show. The Villages are a golfing community near Ocala, FL, very affluent, and the promoter does great advertising. Here's hoping! The bad part is that there is no Friday night set up, so I have to get up at o-dark-hundred to drive down there and do the whole setup Saturday morning. Luckily my mom was kind enough to volunteer to help me... ok, well, dad volunteered her :)